Review by Booklist Review
In Hello, Tobi! a friendly Yorkshire terrier enjoys exploring his neighborhood with his family and also loves meeting and making friends with other families with dogs. Author-illustrator Cáceres welcomes readers with a vibrant palette and soft, gentle shapes that transport into delightful landscapes filled with a diverse collection of family and friends, all of whom greet Tobi and his family with a smile. Perfect for young readers who love dogs, are growing up alongside dogs, or might be learning more about the happiness that pets can bring to their lives, this is a fun neighborhood adventure set along busy city sidewalks, through lush parks, and around local sights, reminding readers what a fun companion a dog like Tobi can be. Tobi's friendly nature even helps his family meet new people and make neighborhood friends! The book celebrates all types of families and people, and Tobi's appreciation for his own family--and affection for everyone he greets--is palpable on every page.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 1--Throughout history, humans have wondered what colors dogs perceive. Rather than focusing on this perennial scientific question, the more compelling inquiry is how they emotionally "see" the world and how humans might emulate their generous, accepting spirits. For dogs like Tobi, who have been taken care of by a loving family, the world is full of many different, interesting types of people and dogs, and Tobi wants "to say hello to all the other dogs and their families" when he takes a walk with his multicultural family of three. Tobi sees families that are small or big, with tall or short people. Some families are composed of quiet people, while other families are "LOUD and like to talk, yell, or even sing." Tobi observes families that play together or observe nature quietly. Some families look like one another, while others do not. Tobi loves all the families and their dogs, not judging based on human constructs like appearance, gender, or status. Cáceres's illustrations are two-dimensional and colorful, conveying effortlessly the loving feelings of the families depicted as well as their dogs. VERDICT A sweet and deceptively simple story offers readers a new lens for looking at those they are familiar with as well as those who are different with an open heart--just as Tobi might.--Sally A. James
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
A friendly pup greets many different families on his walk. Tobi, a tiny dog with brown crayoned scribble-scrabble fur, lives with his family: a bespectacled, brown-skinned youngster with sprightly pigtails and two adults, one pale-skinned, one darker-skinned. The happy trio, plus Tobi, head to the park, where Tobi sees "small families with big dogs," "big families with small dogs," "families that look alike," "and families that look different from one another." Each page highlights a diverse group whom Tobi proudly trots past as everyone shouts out greetings. Of course, there's one family Tobi loves most of all: his own! The people are diverse in terms of race, culture, and ability but co-exist in joyful harmony--and of course, the dog breeds vary as well. The text doesn't call attention to these differences; they are a natural part of the loving, familiar community that Tobi sees every day. Carefully considered and ebullient in emotion, Cáceres' art is the real star. Digitally created with scribbled textures, hand-drawn patterns, and collage elements, the illustrations zing with energy, all originating in Tobi, the one goofy little pup who brings everyone together. Readers--especially dog lovers--will delight in this everyday slice of life.(Picture book. 3-6) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
